SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TRIAL OPENING OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001946

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES TRIAL OPENING OF
A9 HIGHWAY FOR HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO JAFFNA


Classified By: CDA James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (U) The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) announced November
20 it would open for a "trial run" the Muhamalai check-point
on the A9 highway linking the Jaffna peninsula to the south
of the island through the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) controlled Vanni. The A9 highway has remained closed
since military engagement between the LTTE and GSL forces
began August 11. On behalf of the Secretariat for the
Coordination of the Peace Process (SCOPP),Development and
Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogallagama called a
meeting for Co-chair missions and international agencies.
SCOPP Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona also attended, along with
representatives from the U.S., EU, Norway, Japan, the
International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),the United
Nations (UN) and the Nordic-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
(SLMM). Bogallagama read a statement by President Rajapaksa
(full text para 5) and answered logistical questions.


2. (U) Because the monsoon has complicated the GSL's supply
by sea of relief materials to the Jaffna peninsula and due to
the dire humanitarian situation there, the GSL will pursue a
"one-time" convoy of relief supplies through LTTE-controlled
territory via the A9, Bogallagama explained. He requested
the assistance of international agencies in providing
vehicles and banners for an approximately 100-truck convoy
which would meet at the Omanthai checkpoint -- the last check
point before entering the LTTE-controlled Vanni -- to proceed
via the A9 to Jaffna. Peace Secretariat Chief Kohona
clarified that the convoy would be a "trial run" for opening
the land route for humanitarian aid, and did not rule out the
possibility of further missions. Both GSL officials noted
that the logistics of the convoy would take some time to
hammer out. Bogallagama emphasized that only the Muhamalai
checkpoint between the Vanni and the government-controlled
Jaffna peninsula had been closed since August 2006, whereas
the entire land route through the Vanni had been closed from
1996 until the 2001 ceasefire. (Note: The LTTE has repeatedly
claimed that the closure of the Muhamalai checkpoint
represents a violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.)


3. (U) LTTE spokesman Daya Master told the press that the
Tigers "reject" the GSL plan to send a convoy of essential
goods to Jaffna via the A9, demanding that the road be opened
permanently. LTTE-proxy Tamil National Alliance (TNA) member
of parliament G.G. Ponnambalam told pol FSN November 20 that
the GSL had not informed the LTTE about the convoy prior to
releasing the public statement and that the GSL's
announcement had been planned to coincide with the November
21 Co-chair's meeting in Washington. He said that the A9
must be kept open under the terms of the 2001 Ceasefire
Agreement and reiterated LTTE political wing leader S.P.
Tamilselvan's contention in Geneva October 28-29 that
"keeping the A9 open is not a question of sending aid but a
means of civilian and trade access."


4. (C) Comment: The GSL's announcement to temporarily open
the A9 is clearly timed to coincide with the Co-chairs meet
to discuss humanitarian issues in Washington, at which
humanitarian issues and human rights will be discussed. It
is a responsible move, however, and represents the GSL's
attempt to be flexible in response to international pressure.
The opening of the A9, however temporary, will be a public
relations victory for the GSL. While the intention is good,
there are significant logistical details to be ironed out and
the LTTE's "rejection" of the proposal could well be a
complicating factor. End Comment.


5. (U) Full text of the GSL statement:

SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO JAFFNA PENINSULA THROUGH A9

H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has today, directed relevant
government authorities spearheaded by the Commissioner
General of Essential Services (CGES) to make immediate
arrangements to transport a large consignment of essential
supplies to the Jaffna peninsula by road, using the A9
highway. The Muhamalsai entry/exit checkpoint will be
re-opened to facilitate this transport, as a one time
measure. The President took this decision on humanitarian
grounds, having considered representations made by religious

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leaders and the community and having reviewed the situation,
in particular, in the context of inclement weather which is
likely to continue for some weeks. The decision was also
made in order to ensure that a satisfactory buffer stock of
food and other essential items is maintained under the
supervision of the government agent/district secretary in
Jaffna.

The government will request independent organizations to
facilitate the movement of the convoy of supplies through the
checkpoints at Omanthai and Muhamalai. All relevant parties
will be requested to ensure safe passage of these lorries
carrying humanitarian supplies. The lorries will be sealed
after goods are loaded and the seals will be opened once they
reach Jaffna in the presence of representatives from
religious and civilian organizations and government
authorities.

The government will continue to supply essential goods to the
peninsula, by using the sea route as it has done for the past
three months, despite attacks by the LTTE on ships carrying
supplies and passengers and threats by the LTTE to private
traders in the peninsula to prevent the distribution of
supplies to the people.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) was compelled to
temporarily close the A9 highway, entry/exit checkpoint at
Muhamalai situated at the isthmus of the Jaffna peninsula on
11 August 2006. The closure was necessitated due to the
massive artillery and mortar attack launched by the LTTE on
the government forces on the day which destroyed the
infrastructure build by the GOSL at Muhamalai to facilitate
the movement of people and goods. The LTTE has continued
with almost daily attacks since then causing death and
injury. The GOSL is unable to open the checkpoint on a
regular basis until the area is safe for the movement of
civilians and supplies and until it can be assured that
national security will not be compromised.

The humanitarian considerations in relation to the people in
the Jaffna peninsula have been of paramount concern to the
government since it was forced to temporarily close the entry
exit checkpoint at Muhamalai.

In this context the government has taken a number of
initiatives since 11 August 2006 to address humanitarian
concerns of the Jaffna peninsula. The government has taken
full responsibility to supply the needs of the people and has
used the sea route to ensure that adequate supplies of food
and other essential items are sent and that the people are
also able to move to other parts of the country. Since 11
August 2006, 30,859 metric tons of supplies have been moved
to Jaffna using the sea route.

The task of the government has been made onerous by the
refusal of the LTTE to guarantee the safety of supply and
passenger vessels. On the request of the GOSL, both the ICRC
and the WFP have offered to ferry these supplies if the LTTE
were to assure their safety. The LTTE continues to refuse to
provide this basic humanitarian assurance, instead, insisting
that Muhamalai be reopened. In the past LTTE suicide boats
have attacked and sunk supply ships and have attacked
passenger vessels. On 9 November a passenger vessel was
attacked by suicide boats. The LTTE has threatened private
traders, preventing them from distributing goods brought in
by the government and thereby preventing the distribution of
goods in the peninsula.

The GOSL in yet another effort to overcome this impasse and
alleviate the hardships of the Jaffna people has offered an
alternative to opening Muhamalai and has expressed its
willingness to open the ferry link from Pooneryn to Jaffna
purely for the movement of people, (this route is not viable
to move supplies). The GOSL has stated that students will
not be allowed to use this alternative route, to ensure that
young persons in Jaffna will not be forcibly inducted for
military training by the LTTE, as is the norm. The LTTE has
rejected this proposal. The jetty, although damaged in 2001
before the CFA, has been used by ferries plying from Pooneryn.

The A9 highway was closed from 1995 to 2002. At that time,

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two entry/exit points that regulated movement into the
uncleared areas of the Wanni were established. One was the
gateway to the government controlled Jaffna peninsula at
Muhamalai in the north and the other at Omanthai 98 km away,
was the entry point into Wanni from the south.

Contrary to the misconception propagated by the LTTE, the
only part of the highway that is temporarily closed since 11
August 2006 is the entry/exit checkpoint at Muhamalai. The
Omanthai checkpoint has remained open and facilitates the
movement of goods and people to and from the LTTE dominated
areas to the south.
BLAKE